Home → Main News ( August 5, 2026 )
Human Resources Foundation (HRF), Honesdale, PA recently voted in new President Stephen Fritz to the HRF board. Former President Brain Wilkens received a 10 Year Honor Plaque from HRF for his service.
Pictured (l-r) are: Former President of HRF’s Board Brain Wilken, Executive Director Dan Card, Current President Stephen Fritz
Brian Wilken has been an enthusiastic, engaging, and helpful hand in Wayne County for many years. He is the Vice President of Honesdale National Bank, as well as the head of Business Development & Relationship Manager. Brian has been the President of the HRF Board for 10 years, as well a member of other boards throughout Wayne County.
Stephen Fritz is a AVP & Loan Officer of Honesdale National Bank. He brings a young, enthusiastic, and avid attitude to the table, and HRF is looking forward to seeing the potential he brings to the board.
The mission of the Human Resources Foundation is to enhance the quality of life and well-being of individuals with disabilities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, including those over 55 who are seeking to independently age in place. HRF works to build communities that embrace accessibility and inclusive spaces so that everyone may live life to his/her fullest potential. To that end, they fund Hoyer lifts, portable lifts, stair glides, ramps, bathroom modifications and other adaptive equipment.
HRF serves the following six counties: Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Lackawanna and Susquehanna.
The Aging in Place program assists people 55+ who are living below HUD low-income levels and are experiencing difficulty staying in their homes due to physical limitations. Many can't afford transportation for medical visits or other essential in-home adaptive equipment not covered by insurance.
According to Executive Director Daniel Card, “Our goal is to provide these individuals not only with caring assistance, but with a sense of independence and dignity. Our grants cover all financial aspects of the project, from initial visit to estimates to installation.”
Sen. Rosemary Brown’s (R-40) Midwifery Modernization legislation was signed into law marking a significant step forward in expanding maternal healthcare access across Pennsylvania.
Sen. Rosemary M. Brown (at the podium) speaks at a Capitol press conference alongside supporters advocating for expanded maternal healthcare access and the goals behind the Midwifery Modernization legislation.
Senate Bill 507, now Act 14 of 2026, updates licensure requirements for certified midwives, improves collaboration with physicians and expands prescription authority in certain circumstances, including for the treatment of substance use disorders.
“By modernizing outdated laws and supporting greater collaboration among healthcare professionals, we are helping ensure women and families have access to safe, high-quality care throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery,” said Brown.
The law also aims to address healthcare shortages in rural and underserved communities by expanding the number of trained professionals available to provide maternal care services. Additionally, under appropriate agreements, certified midwives can now prescribe certain medications, including those used to treat opioid use disorder – improving outcomes for both mothers and babies.
“Pennsylvania continues to face challenges related to maternal healthcare access and workforce shortages,” Brown said. “This law is a meaningful investment in families, healthcare access and healthier outcomes for communities across the commonwealth.”
The legislation received broad bipartisan support prior to being signed into law by the governor.
Postponed a week for lack of a quorum, two of the Harford Township Supervisors managed to cobble together a brief meeting for July on the 28th. For lack of a lawyer, they postponed further consideration of an agreement with the Harford Fair, as well as a pair of ordinances that would regulate data centers and solar farms.
The agreement with the Harford Fair proposes to codify the responsibilities of the Fair and the Township with respect to the collection, handling and processing of sewage from the fairgrounds. Some two years ago the Township’s sewer system encountered some problems with the sewage being piped from the fairgrounds, problems that required some expense to the Township to repair its equipment. The new formal agreement is intended to forestall such issues in future, and has been in development between the Fair’s and the Township’s lawyers for several months. The Supervisors were prepared to adopt the agreement, but the sewer system’s operator, Dan Farnham – who was also absent from this meeting – has a question that perhaps the Township’s solicitor can answer.
The new ordinances were proposed a couple of months ago. A recent addition to the one about data centers will cover noise abatement. As far as anyone knows, there are no data centers planned for Harford Township. Nor any large solar farms, for that matter. Both will await discussion by the Township’s solicitor, Jamie Hailstone.
Brad Millard was also absent, but Supervisor Robert Rex read a status report on the new park from an email. The Municipal Authority that oversees the park needs the granting authority to finish its inspections in order to release the final payment. Among other minor things, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) wants the handicap parking area to be paved. Volunteers and donations are expected to complete that in the near future.
And finally, the date for the August meeting will be moved up in order to avoid a collision with the Harford Fair. The meeting is now scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 beginning at 7:00pm at the Township office on Route 547.